2 answers
Aharon
Student
Arizona City, Arizona
2
Questions
Asked
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Is it better for me to enroll in a 4 to 8 week CNA program, or a 32 to 34 week PCT program which can prepare me for becoming a PICU nurse.? Or Is it a better decision to go to EMT taring to prepare me for my PICU nurse career.? I am really stressing about the licenses and classes I must take in order to become a PICU nurse, I need someone to please lay it out step by step please. If I want to start off as a CNA nurse can I work with Pediatric, and adolescent patients, or do I need to work with adult patients. What is an HS.
I finished High school and I do have a diploma, and graduated with a 3.63 GPA.
I do believe the CNA program requires one to take an exam with about 70 multiple choice and reading questions, is this true.
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2 answers
TARA NADIA ROSCOE
RN
10
Answers
Kent, Ohio
Updated
TARA NADIA’s Answer
Hello Aharon!
I was a nursing assistant for 3.5 years before I became a nurse and I worked in the NICU as an RN for 3.5 years, but I live in Ohio. I did NOT become certified but I was in nursing school, and I worked with many nursing assistants who were not certified. I never worked in the PICU as an RN, but I worked with a lot of PICU nurses and that's a great unit to work on. Are you enrolled in college/university? Do you plan on enrolling soon? If you do I would first apply to nursing assistant positions without being certified. Many hospitals and nursing homes are in so much need of help that they would probably be willing to train you, and if they find out you're a nursing student that opens up so many doors!
If you really want to be assertive, which I do recommend, I would go into the hospital you want to work at, stop at their information desk and tell them you want to be a nursing assistant and ask for an application. They may give you a contact number or email. Tell them you want to work in the PICU. The PICU does have nursing assistants, in Peds they call them something different, but it depends on where you work. I've worked in NICUs with nursing assistants and without. It doesn't hurt to try! There are nursing assistants in pediatrics. You may not get the PICU right away, but if you can get in peds then do it. If you have to work in adults I would do it still. You'll learn so much working in adults! You will be a well-rounded nurse. It's so different than peds but you will gain so many skills.
If you know someone that is a nurse, more than likely they have connections...reach out to them and ask around. I would really try to get a job before you spend money on a program, even if you don't plan on enrolling in college soon. Many hospitals or nursing homes offer tuition reimbursement programs, sometimes you have to work a minimum number of hours. Get a resume together if you have a work history. If not...who cares...keep trying! Just apply over and over and over again. Eventually you'll get something. I don't know the laws in Arizona on whether you have you be certified, but I bet if you ask around you may find out you don't.
Let me know if you have any more questions. This is an awesome career path! If you're ambitious, which you've already shown that you are if you're on this platform, you'll succeed. You can eventually do travel nursing if you choose and have amazing experiences!
I wrote this article about becoming a nurse if you want to check it out.
https://medium.com/@admin_62751/want-to-become-a-nurse-which-path-to-nursing-is-right-for-you-132eaf366bb7
I wish you well!
I was a nursing assistant for 3.5 years before I became a nurse and I worked in the NICU as an RN for 3.5 years, but I live in Ohio. I did NOT become certified but I was in nursing school, and I worked with many nursing assistants who were not certified. I never worked in the PICU as an RN, but I worked with a lot of PICU nurses and that's a great unit to work on. Are you enrolled in college/university? Do you plan on enrolling soon? If you do I would first apply to nursing assistant positions without being certified. Many hospitals and nursing homes are in so much need of help that they would probably be willing to train you, and if they find out you're a nursing student that opens up so many doors!
If you really want to be assertive, which I do recommend, I would go into the hospital you want to work at, stop at their information desk and tell them you want to be a nursing assistant and ask for an application. They may give you a contact number or email. Tell them you want to work in the PICU. The PICU does have nursing assistants, in Peds they call them something different, but it depends on where you work. I've worked in NICUs with nursing assistants and without. It doesn't hurt to try! There are nursing assistants in pediatrics. You may not get the PICU right away, but if you can get in peds then do it. If you have to work in adults I would do it still. You'll learn so much working in adults! You will be a well-rounded nurse. It's so different than peds but you will gain so many skills.
If you know someone that is a nurse, more than likely they have connections...reach out to them and ask around. I would really try to get a job before you spend money on a program, even if you don't plan on enrolling in college soon. Many hospitals or nursing homes offer tuition reimbursement programs, sometimes you have to work a minimum number of hours. Get a resume together if you have a work history. If not...who cares...keep trying! Just apply over and over and over again. Eventually you'll get something. I don't know the laws in Arizona on whether you have you be certified, but I bet if you ask around you may find out you don't.
Let me know if you have any more questions. This is an awesome career path! If you're ambitious, which you've already shown that you are if you're on this platform, you'll succeed. You can eventually do travel nursing if you choose and have amazing experiences!
I wrote this article about becoming a nurse if you want to check it out.
https://medium.com/@admin_62751/want-to-become-a-nurse-which-path-to-nursing-is-right-for-you-132eaf366bb7
I wish you well!
Mary Jane Shroyer
Director of Health Professions Career Community
116
Answers
Grinnell, Iowa
Updated
Mary Jane’s Answer
Hi, Aharon, I am sorry you are feeling so stressed! Hopefully, I can help you untangle some thoughts here.
Ultimately, you are going to need a nursing degree -- depending on your local healthcare system, that could be a 2-year Associate's Degree in Nursing (ADN) or there may be a preference for a 4-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree (BSN). The certifications you're talking about allow you to work in healthcare and gain some experience but you will need to complete an ADN or BSN in order to sit for the NCLEX exam and become a registered nurse. At the end of the day, I don't think it matters which certification you complete, as they'll all let you work with patients, however, the CNA or PCT might allow you direct patient experience with the patient populations you aim to serve. EMTs do a lot of nursing home transports, so you probably aren't going to see a lot of pediatric patients in the back of an ambulance.
Since I don't live in your community, I can only guess at the best option here. Your local PICU may have a preference for CNAs vs PCTs so it would be good to investigate which is most likely to allow you to gain the experience you are seeking. Like Tara, I encourage you to reach out to PICU nurses at your nearest hospital and chat with them about their opinions on the best certification for your goals since they'll know who they hire for support roles. Your hospital may help you set up shadowing and informational interviews with PICU nurses.
As you have gathered, most healthcare certifications have some kind of requirement for "classroom" hours (often split between "book" learning and hands-on "lab" skills), some requirement for clinical hours (where you are observing and practicing skills in a patient care setting), and some kind of test. A lot of the tests include both a "book knowledge" type exam and a practical skills exam where you have to complete a series of patient care tasks safely and properly. The number of hours and the makeup of the exam is dictated by the state in which you live. You are a great student so I have no doubt that if you focus and practice you will be able to pass both portions of an exam to be certified! You can do it!
Ultimately, you are going to need a nursing degree -- depending on your local healthcare system, that could be a 2-year Associate's Degree in Nursing (ADN) or there may be a preference for a 4-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree (BSN). The certifications you're talking about allow you to work in healthcare and gain some experience but you will need to complete an ADN or BSN in order to sit for the NCLEX exam and become a registered nurse. At the end of the day, I don't think it matters which certification you complete, as they'll all let you work with patients, however, the CNA or PCT might allow you direct patient experience with the patient populations you aim to serve. EMTs do a lot of nursing home transports, so you probably aren't going to see a lot of pediatric patients in the back of an ambulance.
Since I don't live in your community, I can only guess at the best option here. Your local PICU may have a preference for CNAs vs PCTs so it would be good to investigate which is most likely to allow you to gain the experience you are seeking. Like Tara, I encourage you to reach out to PICU nurses at your nearest hospital and chat with them about their opinions on the best certification for your goals since they'll know who they hire for support roles. Your hospital may help you set up shadowing and informational interviews with PICU nurses.
As you have gathered, most healthcare certifications have some kind of requirement for "classroom" hours (often split between "book" learning and hands-on "lab" skills), some requirement for clinical hours (where you are observing and practicing skills in a patient care setting), and some kind of test. A lot of the tests include both a "book knowledge" type exam and a practical skills exam where you have to complete a series of patient care tasks safely and properly. The number of hours and the makeup of the exam is dictated by the state in which you live. You are a great student so I have no doubt that if you focus and practice you will be able to pass both portions of an exam to be certified! You can do it!